Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 10:19 p.m.

Topsail Beach commissioners on Wednesday night agreed to allocate money to improve the quality of sound emitted from the microphone residents and guests speak into at town meetings.

"We need to fix it if we're going to continue to have a system," Commissioner Julian Bone said.

Town Manager Tim Holloman said the cost to improve the system is a little more than $800. That price includes installing an anti-feedback device in the town's current live-stream system.

"You're still going to have to encourage people to speak into the microphone," Holloman said.

Bone asked town officials to look into how the town could enhance the sound after receiving a number of complaints from property owners who say they cannot hear people speaking at the lectern that faces commissioners.

Topsail Beach started airing its commissioner meetings in the summer of 2010, giving anyone with access to the Internet an opportunity to catch them live or view them later.

Airing meetings online gives property owners who do not live there year-round the opportunity to keep up with what's going on in town.

The software is provided by Granicus, a company that hosts the world's largest government webcasting network, according to its website.

<p>Online viewers of Topsail Beach town meetings might soon hear an improvement.</p><p>Topsail Beach commissioners on Wednesday night agreed to allocate money to improve the quality of sound emitted from the microphone residents and guests speak into at town meetings.</p><p>"We need to fix it if we're going to continue to have a system," Commissioner Julian Bone said.</p><p>Town Manager Tim Holloman said the cost to improve the system is a little more than $800. That price includes installing an anti-feedback device in the town's current live-stream system.</p><p>"You're still going to have to encourage people to speak into the microphone," Holloman said.</p><p>Bone asked town officials to look into how the town could enhance the sound after receiving a number of complaints from property owners who say they cannot hear people speaking at the lectern that faces commissioners.</p><p>Topsail Beach started airing its commissioner meetings in the summer of 2010, giving anyone with access to the Internet an opportunity to catch them live or view them later.</p><p>Airing meetings online gives property owners who do not live there year-round the opportunity to keep up with what's going on in town. </p><p>The software is provided by Granicus, a company that hosts the world's largest government webcasting network, according to its website.</p><p>Holloman did not say when the improvements would be made.</p><p>Metro Desk: 343-2387</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</p>